Wavy Hair

How can I control my curls?

Control is often an issue with curly hair because curly hair tends to be dry. Shampoo only when necessary—when it looks dirty, not just feels dirty—in fact, shampoo twice a week at the most; you can always just rinse and condition. It’s best to use sodium sulfate–free products (which contains less detergent), to shampoo only once, and to apply the product only at your roots. You’re cleaning your scalp, not your hair, so don’t massage it into a lather. Keep in mind that most styling products and hairspray will easily wash out with just water; only greasy products, such as pomade, etc., will require extra cleansing. And it’s safe to say it’s nearly impossible to over-condition curly hair.

How do I style my hair to make the most of my curls/waves?

If you have thick curls, use cream-based products to avoid frizz; gels or mousse are better for fine hair. Always use a diffuser attachment when blow-drying, and part your hair before you start to dry. To add volume at the roots, flip your hair forward while wet and scrunch your curls, then avoid touching your hair until it’s nearly dry. When the hair is 80 percent dry, scrunch your curls again to make the most of them, and place them where you would like them to fall. Keep in mind that the more you touch your hair while drying with the diffuser, the bigger—and frizzier—it will become.

If your hair is more kinky than curly, and you would like to make the kinks less tight, try twisting small sections together and letting them air-dry; it’s time-consuming but will enable you to have kink-free hair for nearly a week. To do so, divide soaking-wet hair in small sections, add product to each section, then tightly twist two pieces together, continuing until you have completed your entire head. When completely dry, unwind each section individually. Shake out your curls; if necessary, use a blow-dryer (without a nozzle and on a low-speed) to loosen the sections.

What is the best cut for my curly/wavy hair?

Curly and wavy hair tends to behave—or misbehave—in a similar way, depending on its texture. Make sure your stylist does a blunt cut, using regular scissors and not thinning shears. A blunt cut doesn’t mean you can’t have layers—all hair should be slightly layered—but you still need weight at the bottom of your hair to help control the wave. Be careful: Even if you love bangs, they are hard to maintain if your hair is curly. To get a similar look, ask your stylist for shorter angles around the face to give the illusion of a long bang.